Working Groups

Purpose
The purpose of the Digital Services Working Group (DSWG) is to assess the multi-faceted role of various digital communication services and to understand challenges and scenarios in the deployment and proliferation of such services and digital platforms. The key focus areas of the DSWG are currently in the process of identification and will be made available in due course.

Mission
To become the Council's knowledge-support arm on the Digital Services front, ensuring accordance with messages being developed by likeminded organizations and consistency in advocacy efforts, and to define how the Council will collaborate with other advocacy bodies or groups. The DSWG is also to focus on highlighting impediments to the deployment of digital services, regionally.

Participation
Open to members from within the SAMENA Council membership and new members can join. Participants should be senior within their organizations, carrying titles of “Head of / Director” at minimum.

Facilitator

Imme Philbeck
Chief Economist and Director of Sector Development
SAMENA Telecommunications Council

Jurisdiction
The DSWG will study and utilize existing industry output, studies, and data and engage in collaborative efforts with other industry entities, to make advocacy progress on the Digital Services front, covering its various sub-areas, nuances, and issues of interest for regional regulators and telecom operators. The DSWG has the authority to react to industry developments and regulatory activities on behalf of the membership of SAMENA Council.

Governance Model

The DSWG will sustain and monitor its own performance, overseeing all activities falling within this specific theme/priority.

The DSWG will assess all issues that fall in the domain of Digital Services, and issue its recommendations and positions, supporting SAMENA Council's strategic direction and ICT policy development needs.

It will achieve this with the internal participation of its members and externally, if and as applicable at its own discretion.

It will report its work directly to the Board of Directors for approvals and final direction.

The DSWG will also issue its recommendations to the CEO in the fulfillment of advocacy priorities relating to its work.

Accountability
The Board of Directors agreed not to appoint a WG Chairman. Instead, all Working Group Members have same-level standing within the Working Groups. SAMENA Council will coordinate and drive the activities of the Working Group as the Working Group Councilor, who will also be responsible to present to the Board of Directors of SAMENA Council the progress and the outcomes of the Working Group.

Meeting Schedule
The DSWG will conduct its communication activity via live meetings or teleconferencing, with a total of no less than four (4) meetings per year. The proposed meetings will be held quarterly. The schedule of meetings will be closely aligned with SAMENA and other key events to provide the opportunity to pick up on issues and outcomes of these events.

Purpose
The purpose of the Data Regulation Working Group (DRWG) is to evaluate trends and needs with respect to cross-border communications and data exchange in view of the onslaught of various digital communications technologies, consumer behavior trends, network virtualization / cloud computing, and business activities that require telecom infrastructure. The DRWG will issue recommendations or build on existing work done by likeminded organizations, and issues best practices for stakeholder consumption. The DRWG will focus on:

Mission
To become the Council's knowledge-support arm for addressing various aspects of Data Regulation, ensuring accordance with messages being developed by similar industry organizations and consistency in advocacy efforts, and to define how the Council will collaborate with other advocacy bodies or groups.

Participation
Open to members from within the SAMENA Council membership and new members can join. Participants should be senior within their organizations, carrying titles of “Head of / Director” at minimum.

Jurisdiction
The DRWG will study and utilize existing industry output, studies, and data and engage in collaborative efforts with other industry entities, to make advocacy progress on the Data Regulation front, covering its various sub-areas, nuances, and issues of interest for regional regulators and telecom operators. The DRWG has the authority to react to industry developments and regulatory activities on behalf of the membership of SAMENA Council by issuing public statements.

Governance Model

The DRWG will sustain and monitor its own performance, overseeing all activities falling within this specific theme/priority.

The DRWG will assess all issues that fall in the domain of Data Regulation, and issue its recommendations and positions, supporting SAMENA Council's strategic direction and ICT policy development needs.

It will achieve this with the internal participation of its members and externally, if and as applicable at its own discretion.

It will report its work directly to the Board of Directors for approvals and final direction.

The DRWG will also issue its recommendations to the CEO in the fulfillment of advocacy priorities relating to its complex themes and priority areas.

Accountability
The Board of Directors agreed not to appoint a WG Chairman. Instead, all Working Group Members have same-level standing within the Working Groups. SAMENA Council will coordinate and drive the activities of the Working Group as the Working Group Councilor, who will also be responsible to present to the Board of Directors of SAMENA Council the progress and the outcomes of the Working Group.

Meeting Schedule
The DRWG will conduct its communication activity via live meetings or teleconferencing, with a total of no less than four (4) meetings per year. The proposed meetings will be held quarterly. The schedule of meetings will be closely aligned with SAMENA and other key events to provide the opportunity to pick up on issues and outcomes of these events.

Purpose
The purpose of the Spectrum Management Working Group (SMWG) is to assess operators' business needs with respect to spectrum and spectrum allocation processes across regional markets, and to take, or reiterate, industry positions through spectrum consultations. Specific issues falling under the work scope of SMWG may include:

Policy, Plan & Map

Usage allocation

4G spectrum allocations

5G spectrum allocations

Spectrum pricing practices

License renewals

WRC-15 implementation

WRC-19 preparation

Spectrum Sharing

Mission
To become the Council's knowledge-support arm on WRC-15 implementation and preparatory work for WRC-19, ensuring accordance with messages being developed by likeminded organizations and consistency in advocacy efforts, and to define how the Council will collaborate with other advocacy bodies and spectrum groups in the region.

Participation
Open to members from within the SAMENA Council membership and new members can join. Participants should be senior within their organizations, carrying titles of “Head of / Director” at minimum.

Jurisdiction
The SMWG will utilize existing industry intellectual output on the Spectrum Management theme and make recommendations on relevant advocacy positions, reiterating specific messages aligned with other industry bodies. The group will conduct and help drive spectrum discussions and advocacy efforts in view of WRC-19. The SMWG has the authority to react to industry developments and regulatory activities on behalf of the membership of SAMENA Council by issuing public statements. The SMWG can also decide on its collaborative engagement with Arab Spectrum Management Group and other such bodies, regionally or globally.

Governance Model

The SMWG will sustain and monitor its own performance, overseeing all activities falling within this specific theme/priority.

The SMWG will assess all issues that fall in the domain of Spectrum Management, and issue its recommendations and positions, supporting SAMENA Council's strategic direction and ICT policy development needs.

It will achieve this with the internal participation of its members and externally, if and as applicable at its own discretion.

It will report its work directly to the Board of Directors for approvals and final direction.

The SMWG will also issue its recommendations to the CEO in the fulfillment of advocacy priorities relating to its themes.

The SMWG will also use existing work done by SAMENA Council on the subject of spectrum, particularly the Council's positions on various spectrum bands and WRC related advocacy/lobby work in the past, and issue responses to spectrum consultations.

Accountability
The Board of Directors agreed not to appoint a WG Chairman. Instead, all Working Group Members have same-level standing within the Working Groups. SAMENA Council will coordinate and drive the activities of the Working Group as the Working Group Councilor, who will also be responsible to present to the Board of Directors of SAMENA Council the progress and the outcomes of the Working Group.

Meeting Schedule
The SMWG will conduct its communication activity via live meetings or teleconferencing, with a total of no less than four (4) meetings per year. The proposed meetings will be held quarterly. The schedule of meetings will be closely aligned with SAMENA and other key events to provide the opportunity to pick up on issues and outcomes of these events.

Purpose
The purpose of the Industry Fees Working Group (IFWG) is to help promote reduction in unnecessary telecom fees and financial obligations on telecom operators, which may be preventing sustainable investment in infrastructure development. The IFWG is to develop perspectives for regional governments on the need and the challenge of dealing with financial obligations in the best interest of the market, and to reiterate industry positions on the impact of burdensome financial obligations on the speed of innovation within the ICT industry. The follow areas may be included in the focus of the IFWG:

MissionTo become the Council's knowledge-support arm for addressing the issue of industry fees levied on telecom operators, ensuring accordance with messages being developed by likeminded organizations and consistency in advocacy efforts, to support findings of existing tax studies, and also to define how the Council will collaborate with other advocacy bodies, including GSMA.

ParticipationOpen to members from within the SAMENA Council membership and new members can join. Participants should be senior within their organizations, carrying titles of “Head of / Director” at minimum.

Facilitator

Imme Philbeck
Chief Economist and Director of Sector Development
SAMENA Telecommunications Council

JurisdictionThe IFWG will utilize existing industry studies and positions to adopt specific positions on industry fees, and develop recommendations. The IFWG has the authority to react to industry developments and regulatory activities on behalf of the membership of SAMENA Council by issuing public statements.

Governance Model

The IFWG will sustain and monitor its own performance, overseeing all activities falling within this specific theme/priority.

The IFWG will assess all issues that fall in the domain of Industry Fees and excessive financial obligations, and issue its recommendations and positions, supporting SAMENA Council's strategic direction and ICT policy development needs, as well as those of likeminded industry associations.

It will achieve this with the internal participation of its members and externally, if and as applicable at its own discretion with other industry entities.

It will report its work directly to the Board of Directors for approvals and final direction.

The IFWG will also issue its recommendations to the CEO in the fulfillment of advocacy priorities relating to its industry fees.

AccountabilityThe Board of Directors agreed not to appoint a WG Chairman. Instead, all Working Group Members have same-level standing within the Working Groups. SAMENA Council will coordinate and drive the activities of the Working Group as the Working Group Councilor, who will also be responsible to present to the Board of Directors of SAMENA Council the progress and the outcomes of the Working Group.

Meeting Schedule
The IFWG will conduct its communication activity via live meetings or teleconferencing, with a total of no less than four (4) meetings per year. The proposed meetings will be held quarterly. The schedule of meetings will be closely aligned with SAMENA and other key events to provide the opportunity to pick up on issues and outcomes of these events.

Purpose
The purpose of the Satellite & Subsea Working Group (SSWG) is to encourage the participation of SAMENA Council's non-terrestrial operator members, particularly the satellite and the subsea system operators, to collaborate with terrestrial operators to deliver better 4G and timely 5G solutions.

Mission
To become the Council's knowledge-support and collaboration arm for bringing terrestrial, satellite, and submarine operators together, to help address common operator goals and growth opportunities, and to define specific business areas for the communications services and connectivity providers to work together.

Participation
Open to members from within the SAMENA Council membership. New members can join the SSWG. Participants should be senior within their organizations, carrying titles of “Head of / Director” at minimum.

Facilitator

Amadesi Paolo
Advisor on special projects,
EutelSat Broadband, France

Jurisdiction
The SSWG will collaborate to generate knowledge output in view of its members' need to produce effective results on areas of mutual importance, including business challenges and growth opportunities on the Connectivity & Capacity fronts. The group will insightfully communicate on imperatives for collaboration and tackle mutually faced challenges, such as spectrum rights and cable protection policies. The SSWG has the authority to react to industry developments and regulatory activities on behalf of the membership of SAMENA Council by responding to consultations or issuing public statements, which are to be approved by the Board of Directors.

Governance Model

The SSWG will sustain and monitor its own performance, and set its own agenda in view of challenges and priorities its members face.

The SSWG will assess all issues that fall in its domain, and issue its recommendations and positions, supporting SAMENA Council's overall strategic direction and ICT policy development needs.

It will achieve this with the internal participation of its members and externally, if and as applicable at its own discretion.

It will report its work directly to the Board of Directors for approvals and final direction.

The SSWG will also issue its recommendations to the CEO in the fulfillment of advocacy priorities relating to its priority areas.

Accountability
The Board of Directors agreed not to appoint a WG Chairman. Instead, all Working Group Members have same-level standing within the Working Groups. SAMENA Council will coordinate and drive the activities of the Working Group as the Working Group Councilor, who will also be responsible to present to the Board of Directors of SAMENA Council the progress and the outcomes of the Working Group.

Meeting Schedule
The SSWG will conduct its communication activity via live meetings or teleconferencing, with a total of no less than four (4) meetings per year. The proposed meetings will be held quarterly. The schedule of meetings will be closely aligned with SAMENA and other key events to provide the opportunity to pick up on issues and outcomes of these events.